h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

anyone who would kiss a butterfly
must be loving, gentle, wise
able to surprise
this miracle angel of the flower beds,
this nectar-druggéd vision
of happyjuice, of life after God,
this living gift, destroyed
by the cringefull clumpiness with which we walk through life
or the traffic, mad on the road, by which we drive to death.

Thank you Jabs for sharing this very beautifully written poem.

Was that poem original, Jabs?
If so, it's your masterpiece.
We'll expect great things and keep tabs
On the next works you release.

:-0

Yes, it's original, and thanks Paul and TT for these responses and for your support generally. Much appreciated.

er.. it's your fault actually, Paul - you drove me to it with those two very supportive verses of yours!



Jabs.

Er...those three supportive and (it almost goes without saying in your case) skilful verses, including the one here.

I'm happ'ly supportive, my friend.
We don't know what's 'round the next bend.
The here and the now
Is what's in our scow.
The moment we'll seize, ere the end.

Good one Jabs

Writing is cool, isn't it.

Well done Jabs!

I like that you all like it.

It was done extempore on the 'reply' button. I could see mistakes but I left them. This is a feature of my work - to leave the aleatoric in - as far as I'm concerned, a finished poem acquires a finish, which feels inauthentic, verging on oratory. That's for my own stuff, which I experience from the inside. I love poetry of all kinds, of course.

Careful with the praise - or I'll do loads more!



Jabs.

Favorite quote on poetry from Goethe, "Good poetry is truthful."

Very nice.

I'm kind reminded of an occasion my apartment I was living in at the time was invaded by a swarm of caterpillars.

I collected them and moved them outside to a large elm tree growing directly in front.

Later, I found I'd missed one and it had gone into chrysalis at the top of an interior wall, where the wall joined the ceiling.

I waited till it emerged, returning home one day to find it waiting, its wings unfolded from the chrysalis.

I extended my hand, it climbed aboard and I carried it out of doors, where it took wing.

Nice posts, ITIWBS. Thanks.

Jabs

I used to be fascinated when I read articles about "Butterfly gardens." last year I planted some flowers that are said to attract both bees and butterflies. The most butterfly-friendly of all are Butterfly Bush and Milkweed. I bought a butterfly bush last summer, but neglected to plant it, and put it on a ledge from which it accidentally fell. The bush died. Milkweed grows wild in my area.I'm hoping some will take root in my lawn.

Blue chicory attracts goldfinches. I think somew chicory has taken root in my lawn. Great!

For the bees, I have coneflowers and coreopsis. Strangely enough, what the bees seem to really *want* is dandelions, which I leave alone. Think about it from a bee's standpoint: there will be times when the only nectar source is dandelions and other wildflowers. Best to let nature take its course.

Chickory propagates rhizomatously, by means of extending fleshy roots under ground, though the plant can also be started from seed.

Six inch sections of 1 inch diameter (or larger) chickory roots stored upright in a darkened area, like a basement, grow into heads of endive, which can be exposed to light once the head has reached adequate size in order to green them off.

(Add a little water as necessary to stimulate growth or prevent wilting.)

Smaller roots, dried, roasted and ground, are used for a coffee substitute.

The chicory in my area puts out pale bluish-purple flowers from July through the frost. They bloom in the morning and fade after noon. They seem to propagate from wind-blown seeds, as there were none on my lawn at first, but a few have started up in the last year.

I've always enjoyed chickory flowers as seasonal wildflowers myself.

My grandparents used to have a row of chickory plants growing along their back fence, a white split rail fence against an open park area.

Chicory plants love to take root along the edges of the median strips in divided highways. In the summer, when I'm waiting for a light to change, it's refreshing to see those blue flowers up and down the street.